Stevens' departure leaves a big hole to be filled in the PC cabinet as Calgary's senior Cabinet Minister position now falls to Health Minister Ron Liepert. While I wouldn’t be surprised to see Parliamentary Assistant and Calgary-Foothills MLA Len Webber invited to join Cabinet, it may take Stelmach some time to find a Calgary Lieutenant as well-connected to Calgary's corporate elites as Stevens. A former PC insider has informed me that Treasury Board President Lloyd Snelgrove will take over Stevens now former role as acting-Premier in Stelmach's absence.

In 2008, five Liberal MLAs were elected in Calgary, including their new leader, David Swann. Will their March 2008 electoral gains help the Liberals attract a viable local candidate? In 1963, Bill Dickie was elected as the Liberal MLA for Calgary-Glenmore and was re-elected as a Liberal in 1967 before joining Peter Lougheed's PCs in 1969 (the Liberals would not elect another MLA in Calgary until Sheldon Chumir was elected in Calgary-Buffalo in 1986).

By-election has to be held within 6 months - Wildrose Alliance leadership is in October. Don't be surprised if you see the Tories call the byelection before the Wildrose leadership to prevent the new leader from running.

Wow, a lot of you are smoking that "patchouli incense" - Dianne Colley-Urquhart should be a lock for the nomination for the Tories. Stevens wants her to get the nod, and she will be the beneficiary of his six-figure campaign trust. Charlie Fischer is a Liberal, and has no desire to play second-fiddle to a non-entity like Swann. NDP candidates needn't bother. Danielle Smith may run, but this by-election, as correctly pointed out above, will happen before the fishWRAP have their leadership ballot. Will she want to divide her attention? Who knows (and frankly, who cares).

Charlie Fischer would cruise to victory for any party in Glenmore. Money wouldn't be an issue for him either. He could replace Swann and as former VP for Nexen could take Ron Stevens' connections and put them to work for the ALP. He has cred.

thx for the shoutout Dave. I just don't know why Ron Stevens resigned immediately...other than it give Premier Stelmach an easy excuse to do some much needed carpentry work on some of his wobbly cabinet legs. Nice to have a vacuum to file as the excuse to throw some guys under the bus.

Diane CU may have connections in the riding but her time on council won't serve her well with the electorate next time.

the PC party better recruit someone with some business smarts - someone from the patch? - who has credibility in Calgary. The party laments the fact there are only a half-dozen lawyers in caucus - but how many of them have an MBA?

in a recession I would prefer someone who can crunch the numbers to someone who voted to give me blue boxes

It is time for the Liberals to take actions that demonstrate their clear intention to form government. Approach the NDP and the Greens and suggest a single progressive candidate. Let Colley-Urquhart and Danielle Smith split the vote on the regressive side.

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The opinions expressed on this blog represent my own and not those of my employer or any organization I may be affiliated with.In addition, my thoughts and opinions change from time to time. I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. This blog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and manifestation of the various ideas running around my brain, and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed within out-of-date posts may not the same, nor even similar, to those I may hold today.

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Who is Dave Cournoyer? I am a writer, blogger, communicator, occasional media pundit, political watcher, & proud life-long Albertan. I studied Political Science at the University of Alberta and have served as Vice-President (External) of the U of A Students' Union, Chair of the Council of Alberta University Students, and communications coordinator for Alberta's official opposition party.